City building activity ends first quarter ahead of last year
April 1, 2025
Sioux Falls saw a solid building month to end the first quarter, with the value of permits 44 percent ahead of the same time last year.
Permit valuation totaled $229.5 million through March, up from $159 million last year and $270.3 million two years ago.
“Numbers are strong — trending higher than a year ago,” said Neil King, chief building official for the city of Sioux Falls. “Residential is down in both single-family and apartments, while commercial is staying strong with big growths in manufacturing and commercial remodels and additions.”
The biggest category through the first three months of the year was commercial additions and remodeling at $93.7 million, compared with $35.2 million last year and $72.2 million two years ago.
New commercial construction permits totaled $88.9 million, compared with $74.4 million last year and $169.7 million two years ago.
The foundation permit for the CJ Schwan’s Asian food production facility at $12 million also was issued though not included in the report yet.
Other large-value projects include an addition for Ophthalmology Ltd. at 6601 S. Minnesota Ave. for $6 million, six five-unit buildings at Split Rock Village at 26th Street and Six Mile Road for $5.1 million and a two-story addition at Sioux Falls Lutheran High School at 6715 S. Boe Lane for $4.8 million.
New residential permits totaled $32.3 million, down from $35.4 million last year and up from $15.5 million two years ago. That represents 69 single-family homes versus 105 last year and 33 two years ago.
Permits have been issued for 241 multifamily units, compared with 328 last year and 678 at the same time two years ago.
While that data captures permits issued in March, the city also ran a report for units under construction. There are 821 single-family homes under construction, which represents both permits issued and the completed units awaiting final inspection. There also are 2,161 apartment units in various stages of the construction process.
For an interactive map of permits issued so far this year, click below.
